Using Eye Protection in Healthcare Settings

Debbie Moore

5 months ago

The first patent for eye protection which was a sanitary face shield was granted to Ellen Dempsy of Albany, New York, in 1903. It was primarily invented for “automobilists” but it was also intended to protect people from breathing in airborne germs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Infectious agents are introduced to the eye either directly (e.g., blood splashes, respiratory droplets generated during coughing or suctioning) or from touching the eyes with contaminated fingers or other objects.” Anytime there’s a chance of that happening, workers must protect themselves with appropriate PPE.

Even with this high risk, eye protection is often neglected, especially among nurses. According a study in the American Journal of Infection Control, nurses cited two reasons (among others for overall face protective gear) for not wearing eye PPE:

It impeded their vision

They were already wearing glasses and didn’t think they needed eye protection.

When should a healthcare worker wear eye protection?

It should be noted that eye protection for healthcare workers does not limit to safety glasses but includes face shields too. Respirators–although they have special application–by their design provide effective eye protection as well, and should be used when necessary. A combination of PPE is advised in healthcare settings.

Safety goggles must fit snugly even over prescription glasses with minimal gaps.

When to use: Safety goggles do not provide protection against splashes and sprays to the whole face so they have limited application in irrigating wounds, suctioning secretions, and procedures where blood may spurt. Face shields are a preferred option.

A face shield should wrap around the face till the ear which reduces the possibility of a splash reaching the eyes from the edges. It should also protect the crown and chin.

When to use: Some of the medical procedure where face shields should be used is during suctioning oral secretions, while responding to emergency where blood is spurting, and when irrigating a wound.

Respirators

Commonly used respirators in healthcare settings include N95, N99, and N100 particulate respirators. These respirators have a sub-micron filter that can even exclude particles less than 5 microns in diameter.